Dushanbe, 12.05.2016. /NIAT «Khovar»/. The launching ceremony of Central Asia-South Asia transmission line CASA-1000 project was held today in the city of Tursunzoda with the participation of the Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov.

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon met visiting dignitaries and heads of government on the 47th kilometer of the Dushanbe-Tursunzade highway.

First of all, in a solemn ceremony the heads of states by pressing a symbolic button, gave an official start to the regional transmission line CASA-1000 power project.

After that, the leaders of participating countries held a sincere meeting with residents of Tursunzoda and Shahrinav district as well as other activists of the republic.

CASA-1000 project launching ceremony was also attended by the official delegations of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, representatives of international and regional organizations and financial institutions.

In his speech, President Emomali Rahmon first of all welcomed the dignitaries on Tajik land, calling their participation as a good sign at the beginning of the joint project of regional significance.

President Emomali Rahmon stressed that today’s official launch of CASA-1000 Project will be a historical milestone for each of us as a symbol of the start of real cooperation among the countries of the wider region of Central and South Asia.

Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbai Jeenbekov, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the Vice-President of the World Bank for South Asia Ms. Annette Dixon also delivered speeches.

CASA-1000 is the first inter-regional joint project of the Central and South Asia countries, which will connect the power grids of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

This project will reduce the energy deficit, will contribute to the formation of the energy market, the establishment of trade cooperation of partner countries, the creation of new jobs, taking into account a number of economic, social and environmental benefits. Feasibility study of the project was completed in 2009, and in 2011 the project was approved with a commercial point of view.

This project for Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan creates favorable conditions for the export of surplus electricity in the summer and will yield a real profit, as well as satisfaction of the needs of the population and the economy of Afghanistan and Pakistan with ecologically clean electricity.

It is expected that exporters of electricity Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in May and September will deliver to importers Afghanistan and Pakistan up to 5 billion kW / h, including Tajikistan — 3 billion kW / h.

The implementation of CASA-1000 project is the first step in implementing a set of measures and cooperative arrangements to strengthen communication and infrastructure links between the regions of Central and South Asia, which in the future will create conditions for the development and welfare of the peoples of the region.

The total cost of the CASA-1000 project is estimated at 1 billion US dollars. To implement this project, Tajikistan attracts 320 mln US dollars of investment, Kyrgyzstan — 209 million, Afghanistan — 354 million and Pakistan — 209 million US dollars.

It is expected that at the first phase will be built a high-voltage 500 kilowatt power line with a length of 477 km from Datka of Kyrgyzstan to Khujand of Tajikistan, and then begin construction of high-voltage transmission line from Tajikistan to Afghanistan and from that country to Pakistan with a length of 750 km of power transmission lines.